Blizzard wins "Privacy Invasion Award" from the EFF

Well, having to be connected to battle.net continuously when playing D3 isn't the end of the world, but I'm not really a fan of it. I really like the ability to play a game whether I'm in my home or at some random location with no net connection! Thank god for Torchlight 2, I guess, which I'll absolutely be picking up when it comes out.

For me the biggest privacy issue is the interpersonal one, where I am ALWAYS appearing "Online" to any friends I add via BattleTag or RealID, or even recent players who were in games that I happened to join with a friend. Whether I like it or not, these people know I'm online and who I'm playing with. They can see that it's 4AM in the morning and I was online for the past 6 hours. Why is that anyone's business? Why should I be forced to share that information with people who I'm not really comfortable sharing it with?

I mean, what if I joined a game with a friend, and he happens to know coworkers of mine - I join his game, and a couple of my coworkers are in his game. Now, I'll be on their "Recent Players" list, and they will be able to see my online status for whatever length of time, at least days (I'm not sure when ppl's names leave from that list), or perhaps until they play more games with others. Regardless, I have no choice or control over that. If I'm playing Diablo 3 all night, they will know. Maybe I'm not okay with them knowing? It's none of their business, and I should have the ability to control that personal information. To me, it's a major flaw on Blizzard's part to not realize this.

Society seems naive in general about all kinds of issues. The tyranny of goverment, and parasitical politicians doesn't seem to bother them at all.

I was there, when Blizzard brought RealID as a feature into World of Warcraft. I protested and protested, in the end they went ahead and did it anyway. because its impossible to listen to fans anymore when you're dealing with a userbase of more then 10 million (thats like 2 small whole countries). Look at what happend with Steve Jobs, after Apple companey reached ''God'' status,
A small company nobody will give a shit about, but as demographics increase in numbers that is involved with the company... you are guaranteed to get mafia at your doorsteps, so that Apple doesn't just go into the direction he pleases... of one mans principles (Steve Jobs).

The influence and interest in social engeering gets higher the more people there is involved. We live in an age now were you can sell demographics and earn money with it like on Facebook. But in the end, for the elite, money is just a means to achieve their goals. And this is where cooperation of Activision and Blizzard comes in.

Like I said, people will stay naive and oblivious to the real issues. Camera's worldwide increasing in to the point, where when I travel the city, there is not a SINGLE area where it isn't filled with surveilance in preposterous amounts... but DON'T worry, its for your protection and safety! lololollozorslolol!

You see.. its a distraction. There will be no chips! No chips at all... Just RealID, and the people allready accepted that long time ago.

But oh well... I feel like a hypocrite giving arguments here, while I also may eventually give in to my desires. And worship Diablo as an idol. LOL! I am by no means perfect. But I speak out whenever I can. Wich in my opinion everyone should.

Anyways, this award doesn't surprise me whatsoever.

The only reason someone would be as paranoid as you is if they were planning on doing something bad. Who cares if you have 500 cameras watching you at all times? In the end we all eventually die, so why spend your life worrying about what other people think instead of just being happy?

Seriously though, unless you're planning on stealing something or hurting someone, what's it matter if you have a "security" camera watching you?

If the alternative is allowing cheating, bots, and duping...then i'm all for giving blizzard a small window into my machine. I don't really care because i'm just here to enjoy a game. I suppose if you are actually trying to do something wrong then you probably have a problem with this.

I just find it really aggravating every time some business or organization takes that sort of 'next invasive step.' Inch by inch every single aspect of our lives is being invaded by someone or something and used for gathering statistics. I guess it's sort of like all the people who freaked out when the social security system was invented. "OMG everyone is going to have a number!" Yes, we might have a choice, but before there was no choice there to make. That is, you didn't have to opt out of all kinds of legal agreements every time you did anything.

Err, you do have a choice to opt out of a SS number. A friend of mine didn't have one. It's a huge pain the butt, as most places assume that if you don't provide one, you're hiding something, but it is possible.

The only reason someone would be as paranoid as you is if they were planning on doing something bad. Who cares if you have 500 cameras watching you at all times? In the end we all eventually die, so why spend your life worrying about what other people think instead of just being happy?

Seriously though, unless you're planning on stealing something or hurting someone, what's it matter if you have a "security" camera watching you?

Actually, one reason why people get upset about privacy concerns, even when they aren't, and don't plan to, do anything wrong, is because before long the 500 cameras are used to do wrong. Say the incumbent gov't wants to know who is showing up to the part meetings for an opposing party. No harm in using the cameras to find out who's walking in. Now, depending on how bad the gov't is, they do something to some, or all, of these people. And next maybe it's a religious or some other lifestyle choice. The point is, they want to stop it now, when we still have some measure of privacy. That said, a lot of people don't think through these complaints, and can't seem to figure out that some of these "losses of privacy" are actually worth the trade off. Like the social security number mentioned above. Yes, I have a number attached to my name. But that also lets me be easily distiguished from others with my name, and at other times when I WANT to be tracked (it's easier for proper medical practioners to know my medical history, thus improving my treatment).

Actually, one reason why people get upset about privacy concerns, even when they aren't, and don't plan to, do anything wrong, is because before long the 500 cameras are used to do wrong. Say the incumbent gov't wants to know who is showing up to the part meetings for an opposing party. No harm in using the cameras to find out who's walking in. Now, depending on how bad the gov't is, they do something to some, or all, of these people. And next maybe it's a religious or some other lifestyle choice. The point is, they want to stop it now, when we still have some measure of privacy. That said, a lot of people don't think through these complaints, and can't seem to figure out that some of these "losses of privacy" are actually worth the trade off. Like the social security number mentioned above. Yes, I have a number attached to my name. But that also lets me be easily distiguished from others with my name, and at other times when I WANT to be tracked (it's easier for proper medical practioners to know my medical history, thus improving my treatment).

I hear what you're saying, and I would have to say you make a very valid point. I just would rather have Blizzard be able to monitor our computer use while playing Diablo III/SC2/WoW rather than just letting bots run rampant, and am tired of hearing about how invasive Warden is.

Really, the reasons they gave for their "award" are not that big a deal.
Scanning memory to detect cheating? If it means not having bots in DIII, sign me up. DII was ruined by bots. And really, plenty of games have anti-cheat software in them. I don't see Valve getting a "We have to put on our tinfoil hats when playing these games" award for VAC.

Chat logs are not a big deal - some mods even save them for you in WoW. They've been around since instant messaging started. I really doubt they're secretly capturing your private messages. No one wants to read about you ERPing in Goldshire. Also it's illegal.

"Game recording and player rankings that reveal how often and how long players have been playing." So like the '/played' command? I guess people are against seeing how long they've been playing WoW. Maybe a little embarrassed by it. Someone tell me the harm in recording how long you've been level 85. I don't see anyone getting their credit card information stolen by that. Stop being paranoid.

If you're really bothered by this, then I suggest you take a magnet to your hard drive, send your cell phone on a bus to one place while you secretly go to another, change your name and Social Security Number, cash out and close your bank account, and move to another country. There's a lot more out there recording information about you than just the company that makes your video games.

Err, you do have a choice to opt out of a SS number. A friend of mine didn't have one. It's a huge pain the butt, as most places assume that if you don't provide one, you're hiding something, but it is possible.